Method of preparing epsom salts



. April 16, 1929. s. B. HEATH 1,709,398

METHOD OF PREPARING EPSOM SALTS Filed Feb. 25, 1925 :Efisom limpuort Sulphuric Ocld 4A 1 i- -1 X Alf if a I 4| Plg(OH) Slurry IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patents] Apr. 16, 1929.

METHOD OF PREPARING EALTS;

brines by treatment with lime and inasmuch th as it is practically impossible to wash such hydroxide completel free from the chlorides occurring in such rine, it constitutes the source of chlorides which occur in the li uors from which Epsom salts are or stalli'zed. When the chloride in the liquor to crystallized exceeds approximately 3.5 per cent of sodium chloride (the chloride titration being calculated to per cent of this particular chloride), it becomes impossible to obtain Epsom salts with chloride content below the U. S P. limit, and in the past this high chloride mother liquor has had to be used to make magnesium sulpha for technical use or worked up in other processes. I

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved .process by which the chloride content of the liquor to be crystallized may be kept so low that Epsom salts well below the U; S. P. limit in chloride content may be made continuously.

To the accomplishment of this-and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the steps and means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in theclaims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such dis closed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

'In said annexed drawing y The single figure there appearing is a more or less diagrammatic representation of an apparatus designed for carrying out the present improved method or process.

The essential step in the process as heretofore operated consisted in creaming up the washed magnesium hydroxide with weak mother liquor returned from the crystallizing pans, in the neutralizer, the latter being a brick lined steel tank. Sulphuric acid B6.) was then run in with agitation until the hydroxide was almost completely neutralized. The batch was then filtered, its gravity adjusted and run to pans to cool and crystallize. No appreciable amount of chloride is eliminated in the neutralizer when operated as just depreparation of Epsom Application flled.l'ebruary 23.1925. semi No. 10,984.

scribed. However, I have found that ifconcentrated Epsom salt liquor containing chloridgs is mixed with concentrated sulphuric aci chloride content will hydrochloric acid. I have further found that e removal of chloride is more complete 1) the stronger the sulphuric acid is; (2) the more concentrated the mother liquor is; (3) the hotter the sulphuric acid is;

the mother liquor is; and (5) the greater the in the proper proportion, a part of the be eliminated as gaseous (4) the hotter ratio of sulphuric acid to mother liquor for a given set of conditions.

As an illustration of the tion of the foregoing U. S. P. Epsom salts, 41 B. Epsom salts mother liquor containing 3.5 per cent sodium chloride at 80. C. with 1 volume of'98 per cent sulphuric acid being preferably heated to approximately 120 C. and the mother liquor to a temperature, for example of 90 to 95 0. Under the conditions stated, approximately 75 per cent of the chloride originally present 'in such anothelr liquor will be removed roc to the manufacture of is then used to neutralize more droxide.

The ratios of mother liquor to 98 per cent sulphuric acid, which give the greatest chloride elimination with the least amount of acid, are 1 volumes of 41 B. mother liquor at 90 C. to 1 volume of 98 per cent sulphuric acid cold; and 2 volumes of 41 B. mother liquor at 90 C. to 1 volume of 98 per cent sulphuric acid at 100 C. Each of the above mixtures reduces the sodium chloride content to less than 1 Higher ratios of volume of mother liquorto acid may be used, butthe chloride removal is not so complete and results chiefly from local concentration at the point where the sulphuric acid is run into the mother liquor rather than an equilibrium condition existing in the mixture. Thus, a ratio of'10 volumes of 41 B. motor liquor at 90 C. to 1 volume of 98 per cent-sulphuric acid at 100 C. on mixing results in a reduction of the chloride content of only 0.5 per cent sodium chloride.

In carrying out my improved process in magnesium hypractice, the hot concentrated mother liquor and sulphuric acid are preferably intermixed continuously and the resultant acidified liquor is similarly continuously intermixed I mix 1% volumes of acid, such practical applicaper cent of the original mother liquor.

2 1,709,898 with a body of magnesium hydroxide, the hyintermixing an excess of sulphuric acid with drochloric acid evolved in the first step being continuously removed. For the purpose of ca g out the several stepsjust set forth, the specially designed apparatus illustrated in the drawing may ployed. In such apparatus, a batch of the magnesium hydroxide with the necessary amount of water to make a mixture of the proper consistency is placed in a closed main reaction chamber 1, preferably consisting of a brick lined steel tank fitted with an agitator 2. Substantially included within said chamber 1 is a supplemental container 3 in the form of a lead lined and covered steel box to which the hot concentrated Epsom liquor and concentrated sulphuric acid are continuously supplied in the proper proportion through valve controlled pipes 4 and 5, respectively. From such container 3 the resulting acidified mother liquor overflows continuously through a launder 6 into the main chamber or tank 1. The hydrochloric acid gas evolved from the reaction of the sulphuric acid with the mother liquor is drawn out through a stack 7 to an absorber and if desired, air may forated pipe 8 or by equivalent means into the mixture in chamber 3 to blow out more of such hydrochloric acid gas than would be evolved as a result of its own vapor pressure driving it ed. The acid mother liquor overflowing from container 3 into the magnesium hydroxide slurry in the bottom of tank I is of, course at once neutralized and when substantially all of the magnesium hydroxide has been converted into the desired sulphate, the

. operation is temporarily interrupted and the completed batch withdrawn, filtered and set aside to cool and crystallize. lit will be understood, of course, that my improved method is not limited to use with the particular app aratus thus shown and described, but that other forms of reaction tanks or towers may be substituted.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards themeans and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims or their equivalent be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a method of making magnesium sulphate, the step which consists in lowering the chloride content of concentrated magnesium sulphate liquor containing chloride impurities by breaking up such chloride.

2.. In a method of making magnesium sulphate from magnesium hydroxide containing chloride impurities, the steps which consist in be advantageously embe introduced through a perconcentrated magnesium sulphate mother liquor from a previous run, such acid and liquor being heated removing evolved hydrochloric acid in gaseous form, liquid mixture to magnesium hydroxide.

3. In a method of making magnesium sulphate from magnesium hydroxide containing chloride impurities, the steps which consist in subjecting concentrated magnesium sulphate mother to the action of sulphuric acid, such acid being in excess of the amoun't required to react with the chlorides present in such liquor and both acid'and liquor being heated to a temperature of at least 90 C. removing evolved hydrochloric acid in gaseous form, and addiplg the liquid mixture to magnesium hydrox- 1 e.

In a method of making magnesium sulphate from magnesium hydroxide containing chloride impurities, the steps which consist in continuously intermixing sulphuric acid with concentrated magnesium sulphate mother liquor from a previcusrun, such acid being in excess of the amount required to react with the chlorides present in such liquor and being heated to a temperature of approximately 120 (3., and such liquor being heated to from 90 to 95 0., removing evolved hydrochloric acid in gasous form, and adding the liquid mixture to a fresh lotof magnesium hydroxide.

5. In a method of making magnesium sulphate, the steps which consist in lowering the chloride content by adding sulphuric acid to the liquor, and subsequently neutralizing such acid with magnesium base.

6. In a method of making magnesium sulphate, the step which consists in adding hot concentrated sulphuric acid to hot concentrated mother liquor.

7. In a method of making magnesium sulphate where magnesium hydroxide contain ing chloride impurities is employed, the steps which consist in eliminating chlorine by admixing sulphuric acid, and'subsequently neutgalizing such acid with magnesium hydrox- 1 e.

8. In a method of making magnesium sul phate where sulphuric acid is reacted with a magnesium base, the steps which consist in mixing the sulphuric acid hot with hot mother liquor, and then reacting upon the magnesium base with the mixture in proportion to obtain neutral'magnesium sulphate solu tion, filtering such solution, cooling to sep' arate magnesium sulphate, and returning the mother liquor to the first step.

Signed by me this 19th day of February,

SHELDON B. HEATH.

and adding the liquor from a previous run lltl 

